Project Overview
Covington Independent Public Schools sought a different, more transparent way to complete energy savings projects. Alvin Garrison, Superintendent, and Eric Neff, Personnel Director, did extensive research on finding a qualified provider of guaranteed energy savings projects. Covington was the first district in the state of Kentucky to utilize the new Kentucky Purchasing Cooperative (KPC) guaranteed energy savings price contract and, through a transparent, competitive selection process, awarded the $7,972,800 project to Performance Services. The benefits of the price contract delivery method include detailed engineering design, a defined scope before a contract, open-book pricing, and a flat cost structure without unnecessary markups.
The guaranteed energy savings project meets the energy, efficiency, and safety needs of the District Facility Plan approved by the School Board in January 2016. It brought much-needed improvements to all buildings throughout the school district, including an improved learning environment for students, enhanced maintenance and operations of facilities, and measured and verified energy savings. The largest portion of work was implemented at Ninth District Elementary School. The existing heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system in this building, much of which was over 60 years old, was replaced. The new system is designed for both comfort and energy efficiency.
As a result of this project, the district has saved $1,386,000 in utility costs. Additionally, it has reduced billed electric consumption by 39% compared to pre-project consumption during the most recent report period covering July 2022 to June 2023. The measured and verified savings for the period totaled $282,937, exceeding the guaranteed energy savings projection of $222,939 by 21%.
2023 Project Overview
In 2023, Covington Independent Schools enlisted Performance Services to execute another phase of work to address HVAC and equipment replacements at five buildings and drive net savings to the general operating fund. The project included roof-mounted solar arrays at Sixth District Elementary, Latonia Elementary, and Glen O. Swing Elementary Schools. In total, the solar capacity of these three new systems is 533 kW. The project also included upgraded LED lighting, exterior door and window replacement, building envelope weatherization, and telecommunications upgrades, reaffirming the district’s commitment to reducing long-term operating costs. This second phase was completed in May 2024.
Phase I Project Highlights
- LED interior and exterior lighting retrofit on all buildings – reduced energy consumption by 1,077,144 kWh in the first year
- Digital control system upgrade
- Water conservation retrofit
- Upgraded air handling units to variable-speed fan motors
- Replaced chillers and pumps
- Replaced boilers and pumps
- Replaced rooftop units
- Replaced a cooling tower
- Complete HVAC Retrofit of Ninth District Elementary School:
- Replaced all existing heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems, much of which is 60 years old
- Dual temperature design used for comfort and energy efficiency
- Replaced 59-year-old hot water boilers, and 25-year-old chillers and pumps
- Replaced 59-year-old horizontal unit ventilators with new dual-temperature classroom unit ventilators
- Replaced gym and office units
Phase II Project Highlights
- Interior LED lighting improvements
- Telecommunications upgrade
- Building envelope weatherization improvements
- New energy-efficient transformers
- Replaced boilers and pumps
- Replaced rooftop units
- New windows
- New exterior doors
- Complete HVAC Retrofit of James E. Biggs Early Childhood Education Center:
- Replaced all existing heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems
- Replaced hot water boilers, chiller, and pumps
- Replaced unit ventilators and fan coil units
- Upgraded kitchen make-up air system
Solar Arrays
- Chapman Child Development Center rooftop-mounted, net-metered solar system
- John G. Carlisle Elementary School rooftop-mounted, net-metered solar system
- Sixth Elementary School rooftop mounted solar system
- Latonia Elementary School rooftop mounted solar system
- Glenn O. Swing Elementary rooftop-mounted solar system
